Good Morning Friends,
Jesus was on trial for His life. Jesus had
been arrested on the orders of the high priest and the Jewish council. Now He
was at the high priest’s home and the trial before the council was going on. And
while Jesus was on trial, two of His disciples were lingering in the yard
outside the house, Peter and another disciple.
“‘You are not one of his disciples, are you?’
the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, ‘I am not.’” (John 18:17)
Why would Peter deny being a follower of
Jesus? Just a few hours earlier, he had drawn his sword, ready to fight the
soldiers and die to protect Jesus. Now, it seems as though he is a coward. Or,
could it be that he thought he could be more help to Jesus if no one knew he
was a follower. If they knew, perhaps they would not let him stay there.
“As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was
asked, ‘You are not one of his disciples, are you?’ He denied it, saying, ‘I am
not.’ One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter
had cut off, challenged him, ‘Didn’t I see you with him in the olive grove?’ Again
Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.” (John 18:25-27)
Twice more Peter denied Jesus, perhaps not
even realizing what he was doing. The rooster crowed, the sign that Jesus had
predicted would happen following Peter’s denials, and Peter knew then what he
had done.
Perhaps, like Peter, we don’t always mean to
deny Jesus. We speak before we think. Perhaps even with good intentions, not
ready to share our faith, looking for a better opportunity. Before we realize
it, we’ve denied Him.
And, like with Peter, when we do, the
disappointed eyes of Jesus turn our way. He would never deny us!
His, by Grace,
Steve
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